Cops in Katrina shooting win legal round

Lawyers for three police officers charged in fatal shootings at a bridge in the chaos after Hurricane Katrina can have the complete transcripts of two grand jury witnesses, a judge ruled Thursday.

The transcripts contain evidence that would either be favorable to the officers or would impeach the testimony of other witnesses, Judge Raymond Bigelow said in his ruling.

The lawyers representing Sgt. Kenneth Bowen, Officer Michael Hunter and Officer Ignatius Hills had seen redacted copies of the testimony, but Bigelow ordered that they be given complete versions.

“To cut and paste would dilute the ability of the reader to understand the testimony in this very complex case,” the judge said.

The officers are among seven charged with murder or attempted murder in the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the bridge that killed two men and wounded four other people.

Bigelow has not ruled on a motion to dismiss the charges.

One of the witnesses whose testimony Bigelow ordered turned over was Lance Madison, the brother of Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old mentally retarded man, who was shot and killed by police on the Danziger Bridge.

Police said the indicted officers came under fire when they responded to a report of other officers being attacked. Police also claimed Ronald Madison was reaching for a gun, but Lance Madison denies he or his brother was armed.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office is reviewing the ruling and will decide within a few days whether to turn it over or appeal Bigelow’s ruling, spokesman Dalton Savwoir said.